The TTRPGs for Trans Rights charity bundle is back for its third year to offer another massive collection of digital tabletop RPGs, zines, supplements, adventures, and other creations to raise money to support Project Rainbow, the only LGBTQ+ shelter and advocacy center in the entire state of West Virginia.
You may remember this particular bundle initiative from its efforts in previous states, including Texas and Florida, and organizers have raised a cumulative total of $800,000 in proceeds and matching donations, according to a press release. This year’s bundle only costs a minimum of $5 and contains 529 digital items from across the tabletop gaming industry, all donated so that the entirety of the funds raised can be donated directly. Organizers hope to raise at least $50,000 before the fundraiser ends on June 1, with additional goals planned for any milestone sums reached beyond that point.
Rue Dickey, founder and executive director, said the team behind the package chose West Virginia because of the stark lack of access for trans and queer people of color within the conservative state, especially during a period of aggressive “anti-trans sentiment, legislation, and fearmongering.” The team points to the more than 450 anti-trans bills that have been drafted or prepared for a vote at all levels of government since the beginning of 2024.
“As a disabled, mixed-race trans person, seeing the rise of dangerous rhetoric across the country sparked something in me,” Dickey said. “There’s not much I can do as a single person, but by putting together a community effort like these packets, we can provide resources directly to trans people who are harmed by these policies.”
The Rainbow Project provides shelter and emergency housing to at-risk trans and queer people, as well as connecting them to vital mental health and medical resources from trusted providers, all connected through grassroots organizations working directly within West Virginia’s queer and trans communities. The center also maintains activities and educational efforts throughout Appalachia.
Most games and supplements offer fans digital copies that can be redeemed through Itch.io, but the bundle has hooked up with several third-party publishers who will distribute codes and access to other creations beyond the indie-dominated platform. One such company is Paizo, which is offering digital copies of Pathfinder Lost Omens: Knights of Lastwall for all purchases (after filling out a Google form).
The package includes plenty of absolute hits, including Snow’s moody, mysterious Songbirds 3E and Cassi Mothwin’s 1-2 player RPG that mixes horror and magical school tropes (Mothwin won the Tabletop Award for Rising Star Designer of 2023). Dinoberry Press’s Dinocar is a silly, creative map-drawing exercise in a world where prehistoric creatures must drive a vehicle to their day job, while the DM-less game Lordsworn tells the tragic tale of followers of a now-dead god plotting a desperate path back home through the remnants of their faith.
You can check out the 500+ games and supporting materials on offer on the bundle's Itch.io page. More information about Project Rainbow, including how to access its support and resources, is available on its main website.